[17] We were told by our physician that the water system would kill us, as we had “not sufficient reaction to stand it.” Had he, however, understood anything of its working, he could not have made this observation, as Hydropathy implies cold water only in those cases to which cold water is suited; and if he had asked Dr. Barter, he would have told him that the chief thing he had to guard against in practice, was excessive reaction, instead of the want of it. We ran the gauntlet, however, and can truly say we never knew what real health was until we did so, and forswore the use of drugs. [18] The administering of poison to cure disease, is nothing short of a contradiction of terms; for the word poison, if it means anything, means something injurious to bodily health, and therefore incompatible with its welfare. We might as well try to strengthen a man by bleeding him. [19] To those who desire a detailed and scientific account of the water cure in a popular form, we recommend “The Confessions of a Water Patient,” by Sir Bulwer Lytton; “The Water Cure,” by Dr. Wilson; and “Hydropathy,” by Dr. Lane; whilst to those desiring a learned, lucid, and most able scientific treatise, we would suggest “The Water Cure in Chronic Disease,” by Dr. Gully; and “Domestic Hydropathy,” by Dr. Johnson. [20] A friend of ours was told by a physician in whom many place confidence, that if he opted to take the Turkish bath, it would KILL him. Having, however, read something on the subject, he went to Blarney, tried the bath, luxuriated in it, and derived the greatest benefit from its use. We can tell the reader that this physician at the time he prophesied, had never visited the Blarney bath, nor could he have known any thing about it, as no description of it had been published at the time. Under such circumstances an unsophisticated mind would think it more becoming for him to have said—“I cannot advise you in this matter, as I have not studied the subject; what you do must be on your own responsibility.” It is such illiberality of mind as the above—such a want of pursuing truth for its own sake—which has brought discredit on the medical profession, and loosened its hold on the public. [21] 1. “Turkish Bath; with a View to its Introduction into the British Dominions.” London: David Bryce, 48, Paternoster-row. 2. “The Turkish Bath; being a lecture delivered at Bradford, by Dr. Barter.” London: Routledge & Co. [22] In the vapour-bath, or vapour-chamber, the whole of the body is surrounded by vapour, whilst in the vapour-box the head of the patient is exposed to the influence of the external air. In neither case can the bather endure a higher temperature than 120° Faht., while in the Turkish bath a temperature of 300° may be endured with perfect safety.